White (The Restoration Trilogy, #1) by Denise Weimer [Review & Giveaway]

About the book: As historic preservationist Jennifer and brooding bachelor Michael restore his ancestors’ historic doctor’s residence in a rural Georgia community, they uncover the 1920s-era prejudice and secrets that caused Michael’s branch to fall off the family tree. Recent graduate Jennifer is determined to fulfill her first professional position with integrity even if her employer lacks a proper appreciation of history.

With the restoration of each building, Michael, Jennifer and a cast of endearing characters uncover three lessons of heart healing from three different centuries (WHITE, 1920; WIDOW, 1870; and WITCH, 1790) that they learn to apply to their own lives and community. Far more challenging—and sinister—than the social landscape of Hermon are the strange accidents hinting that someone doesn’t want them on the Dunham property. Yet Michael’s and Jennifer’s own pasts pose the biggest obstacles to laying a fresh foundation of family and community. The Restoration Trilogy melds humor and heartache to show how only God, The Master Renovator, can heal our most broken places.

My thoughts:  This is a short novel in which the author plows the rocky fields of current and past people's lives turning furrows that reveal histories that are troubling.

The back story, though several generations before the current timeline, is the root of the current tale where Jennifer the historic restoration preservationist stumbles and sloshes through the mire of the troubled deep South's roots involving relationships between races.

I enjoyed the characters of Jennifer and Michael once the story got to rolling along. I felt the ending and their relationship were left hanging. Perhaps in the next book in this Restoration Trilogy, Widow, we'll see their relationship blossom.

Having grown up in the deep South myself and in a home built around 1860, I appreciated the romp through the historical elements of the home itself as they discussed the restoration project. (No, I didn't grow up on a plantation, just a simple city home in the historic section of a Southern city. Mantels and fire places in every room. Wide floor boards. Wainscoting. High ceilings. )

The spiritual elements of the book were very good but some might find the discussions a bit preachy. This is to be expected since it is Christian fiction.

GIVEAWAY

Begins February 22
ENDS March 8 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. 

 Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received an advance review copy from the author with a request to review it. I received no compensation for doing so. Opinions are my own.